Blectric-generator attachment for windmills



V. L. SULLIVAN- ELECTRIC GENERATOR-ATTACHMENT FOR WINDMILLS. APPLICATION r'xuzo FEB, 12. 19:9.

'1 ,336,544, Patented Apr. 13, 1920 er/207a Z. Szzilzlwn.

inn/Enron. BY

Awomusvs UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VERNON L. SULLIVAN, OF EL PASDv TEXAS.

ELECTRIC-GENERATOR ATTACHMENT FOR WINDMILLS;

Application filed February 12. 1919.

To all w/wm if mrq/ concern lie it known that I, VnnNoN L. QULLWAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at El laso. in the county of El laso and State of Texas, have invented an i ]leetric-Generator Attachment for lVindniills, of which the fol'lmvinn' is a full and complete specifica tion.

The primary object oi my invention is t utilize the power of a windmill for operat ingan electtic-generator to furnish an elec trii-wurrent which may be used for various purposes, such as driving, electric motors for operating all kinds of machinei'y electric lighting, heating, &c,

'lhereiore it is for the purpose of utilizin; the full power of the windmill that I propose to locate an electric-generator at a convenient point on the rotatable head of the windmill so that it may be operated directly from the shaft of the windmill and prodllt'f an electric current that will enable such windmill to do more work than heretofore; conveying: the current from the generator to the point or points of consumption by means of wire conductors combined with a device of particular construction for making connmrtion between the wires car ried by and rotatable with the windmill head and mast-pipe and the stationary wires extending down the tower; whereby the clcctrica-ilrrent may be employed for per- Forming the function of the windmill in some instances and for various other domestic purposes, as running small electric-mo tors, electric lighting, &c., the full capacity of the electric generating plant being maintained by interposing storage batteries in the circuit to store electric energy during the time the supply is not being drawn upon.

With these principal objects in view my invention consists in certain means for conducting theeurrent to the point or points for utilizing the same; as hereinafter fully described and specifically set forth in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation showing the application of my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of the lower end of the mast-pipe, showing the devices for conducting, the electric'cnrrent from the wires carried by the rotatable portion of the windmill to the Wires extending down the tower.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 276,562

Fig. 3 is a Fig. 2.

Fig. 1 a transverse sectional view on the line -'l-'lol' Fig. 2, and

Fig. :"1 is a detail side view of the fixed member of the conductor device.

My invention is adapted to be applied to any conventional type of windmill, that showiin Fig. l for illustration havin g a head [(1 rotatable on a turn-table ll at the upper end of the tower 1:, with a depending niastpipe 13 through which the pumpa'od ll passes the latter being operated in any suitable manner by the horizontal shaft 16 to which the wind-wheel i8 is fixed and the aforesaid rotatable head carrying the windwheel and depending mast-pipe being pro vided with the usual tail-vane 19.

In carrying out my invention I employ any approved form of eleetric-generator 20, mounting the same on a base-board 21 by which it is firmly bolted or otherwise faslrned to the rotatable head ll) of the windmill, and connect said generator to the wind wheel shaft 16 by means of inter-meshing gear-w heels 22 and 33 on the generator-shaft and wind-wheel shaft, respectively, though of course any other form of gearing may be employed, if desired. By this arrangement the electric gem-rrator is operated directly from the wind-wheel shaft and wilLconserve the surplus power over that required in operating the pump, and may receive all the power of said wind-wheel when the tank is filled by simply disconnecting the pump rod from the pump.

Conductin wires 25 and 26 from the enerator pass through the rotatable head 10 into the mast-pipe l3 and out at the lower end of the latter, and as these wires rotate with the head and mast-pipe, in accommodating the wind-wheel to the direction of the wind, it is necessary to provide a movable contact or conductor device for connecting these wires to service wires 25 and 26 which extend down the tower to the point or points of consumption of the current in completing the circuit. This conductor device comprises a flanged ring or band 30 of insulating material fastened to the mast pipe and carrying angle-plates 31 and 32 attached thereto and insulated from each other, said angle-plates forming the rotavertical sectional view of table portion of the conductor device by moving with the mast'pipe and are connected to the wires 25 and 26 as shown in the Patented Apr. 112. 1920.

drawings. In slidable contact with these plates are companion annular plates or rings :33 and 34 having arms 33 and 34, respectively, by which they are immovably supported in the tower and connected to the service wires by the usual screws and nuts, said rings bein clamped at ainst the horizontal flanges 0% the angle-B ates 32 and 33, to insure required contact, y attachment to a supporting block 35 of insulating material, and are pre erably bent up at opposite sides on a line with the arms to provide contactpoints 33, 34". The bolts 36, connecting the stationary contact-members of the conductor device to the supporting block, are suitably insulated from said contact-members.

, The practical application of my invention will be readily understood, for in o eration the power of the windmill, either w olly or partially as hereinbefore explained, is dirested to the operation of the electriogenerator, and the current is conducted by wire 25 to the plate 31 rotatable with the mastpipe, from this plate to the stationary plate 33, to wire 25" and on to the point of consumption; the return of the circuit being by way of wire 26, contact plates 34 and 32, and wire 26 back to the generator. The current or electric ener y may be used for various purposes, as wil be understood, and in order to increase the efliciency of the electric lant ordinary storage-batteries may be inc uded in the circuit.

I claim as my invention:

A device for conveying current between two relatively rotatable members com rising a band of insulating material attac ed to one of said members and having an outwardly projecting flange with angular conductor plates attached to said band above and below the flange, and companion annular conductor plates bearing against the angular plates, respectively, and having arms by which they are supported out other member, said annular plate bent outwardly to provide contmwhich slide over the an ular plates, an electric connections exten in to and from the two sets of conductor p ates, res ectively, substantially as herein shown and escribed.

VERNON L. SULLIVAN. 

